Fairhaven Man Behind Viral 1-Star Whaling Museum Review Finally Speaks Out

For most people, a Google review is something they write, post and immediately forget.

For Fairhaven's Jake Ozcan, one joking review he left more than five years ago unexpectedly came roaring back into his life, helping turn the New Bedford Whaling Museum into a national sensation.

The now-famous one-star review, which jokingly criticized the museum for being the worst aquarium he's ever been to, inspired the museum to print the review on T-shirts and sweatshirts.

READ MORE: Massachusetts Museum Turns Hilarious 1-Star Review Into Best-Seller

The merchandise quickly sold out, landed on backorder and sparked national attention from outlets including ABC and CBS, all thanks to a joke Ozcan admits he barely remembered writing.

When we called Ozcan to talk about his infamous review, he laughed about how surreal the entire experience has been.

'I Didn't Even Remember Writing It'

"It's probably the most insane thing that's ever happened to me," Ozcan said. "It was back in COVID, and I was still in high school at the time. Me and my friends were bored one night messing around on Google reviews, and I literally did not even remember writing that until yesterday when my mom sent me the link to the article."

New Bedford Whaling Museum 1-Star Review Merch

Ozcan said the review was never meant to be taken seriously. Growing up in Fairhaven, he said school field trips to the Whaling Museum were practically a "rite of passage," making the joke an inside reference more than anything else.

"It was lighthearted," he said. "I thought it was just such a four-out-of-10 joke. So the fact that it's become this huge thing is crazy. It's also funny seeing people who actually think I believed it was an aquarium. I'm like, 'Yeah, I know, bro. That's the joke.'"

A Marketing Student's Unexpected Success Story

Ironically, Ozcan is now studying marketing in college, making the accidental viral moment feel even more fitting. After all, he essentially created one of the museum's biggest public relations wins in recent memory, and Ozcan couldn't help but laugh.

Fairhaven Man Behind Viral 1-Star Whaling Museum Review Finally Speaks Out

"I guess so, I had to go check afterward and make sure I didn't write anything else stupid. I want a sweatshirt or something," Ozcan laughed. "I need the sweatshirt at least, or maybe a couple for my family."

A Reminder That the Internet Never Forgets

As funny as the story has become, Ozcan said it also serves as a reminder about the permanence of the internet. "It's crazy, like a digital footprint," he said. "But honestly, if that's what my digital footprint is, I'm okay with that. I'm glad it's not anything bad."

For someone who grew up listening to Fun 107 and even remembers winning one of the station's classroom pizza parties as a kid, the experience has come full circle in the most unexpected way. What started as a throwaway joke from a bored high school student has become a feel-good story about humor, clever marketing and the unpredictable ways the internet can turn a simple review into a national headline.